I discovered this beautiful mural while visiting Catherine Strong Park in Delray Beach. Created in…read more2021 by local artist Anthony Hernandez, It Takes a Village honors neighborhood heroes Albert and Beatrice Tyson who helped to foster the sense of community that has long surrounded the park. Albert and Beatrice Tyson always kept a watchful eye on the children playing in the park. Their presence gave parents peace of mind, knowing that someone was always looking out for their children. The mural was commissioned by the Delray Beach Public Art Advisory Board and painted along the I-95 concrete sound walls at Catherine Strong Park. Its purpose was not only to beautify the space, but also to recognize the unsung neighborhood residents who looked out for children playing in the park. The City of Delray Beach unveiled It Takes a Village on September 17, 2021, honoring the Tysons for their kindness and dedication to the community. The mural serves as a touching reminder that it truly takes a village to create a safe and caring neighborhood. Artist Anthony Hernandez was born in Havana, Cuba, raised in Chicago, and later made South Florida his home. His work is primarily created with oil and acrylic on canvas, although he has increasingly incorporated murals into his artistic practice. He describes his art as being rooted in the idea that everything is connected and that our actions and intentions whether good or bad create a chain reaction. His philosophy is summed up in the belief that "art and life go hand in hand; it is about decisions, not conditions." It Takes a Village is more than a colorful addition to Catherine Strong Park. It tells a story about community, caring neighbors and the people who quietly make a difference in the lives of others. I love that this mural preserves the memory of Albert and Beatrice Tyson while reminding visitors that looking out for one another is what makes a neighborhood feel like home.

One of my favorite pieces of public art in Boca Raton can be found at Royal Palm Place, just off…read moreFederal Highway. Standing at the entrance is a 50 foot clock tower featuring an 11 foot high bronze statue of Addison Mizner with his beloved pet spider monkey, Johnnie Brown, holding his shoulder. Addison Mizner (1872-1933) was one of Florida's most influential architects and the leading figure behind the Mediterranean Revival style that shaped the architecture of South Florida during the 1920s. His legacy is especially visible throughout Boca Raton, where his visionary design can still be seen today. In 2005, inspired by Mizner's contributions to Boca Raton, philanthropists Jim and Marta Batmasian commissioned Colombian sculptor Cristobal Gaviria to create the bronze statue. The monument was placed in the downtown plaza owned by the Batmasians and dedicated in late March of that year. I love how the statue highlights not only Mizner's architectural genius but with the inclusion of johnnie brown, also his colorful personality. Known as the Human Monkey, Johnnie Brown would ride on Mizner's shoulder as they traveled along Worth Avenue and attended lavish parties and high society events. Backed by Mizner, Johnnie Brown even ran for mayor. At the dedication it was noted by City Councilman Peter Baronoff "To my understanding, it's the only monument of Addison Mizner in the whole city." Perched at the southern entrance to Boca Raton, Addison Mizner welcomes everyone to Boca Raton.

I love the "Beyond" teepee-shaped sculpture in bustling downtown Coral Springs on the ArtWalk at NW…read more31st Court by North University Drive. It features scratch-resistant glass and led lights. This is an interactive, and therefore Fun, art piece kids as well as adults may walk through. The artist- Zachary Knudson- is from Coral Springs! Best of all are the bright colors on display day and night with colors that change at night. I have come to love "Beyond" and could not imagine Coral Springs without it.

Since their first public art project, the covered bridge in 1963, Coral Springs has become one of…read morethe leading public art cities in south Florida. The art is paid for during development and redevelopment in the city. Fees are collected from permits during building construction and renovations in the city. None of the art is paid with public tax dollars. Beyond is one of six installations in the new ArtWalk, an event and entertainment space in downtown Coral Springs. The ArtWalk is 1300 feet long and has benches, a seating wall, native plant landscaping, and room for event tents. It serves as a place for the city to display temporary art works, some of which they will eventually purchase. Beyond was commissioned by the city in 2015. It is a 13 foot high, $100,000 glass sculpture made of powdered coated aluminum with LED light. It was created by glass artist Zachary Knudson and serves as an entryway sculpture for the ArtWalk. You can walk through the piece and I love how it looks different depending on whether you are viewing it during the day or at night. This pieces is very unique and Coral Springs is the only city to have an infinity glass sculpture in this style and of this size.

Lead with Love is a mural brightening up the newly renovated Huizenga Park. It is the fourth mural…read morein the Lead with Love mural series by renowned artist Cey Adams, created through a partnership between the Community Foundation of Broward and Business for the Arts Broward. You can find it on the wall that houses the restroom. Running from fall 2024 through 2027, the Lead with Love campaign will bring nine distinctive, love-themed murals to nine Broward County communities. The initiative uses public art to inspire unity, encourage cultural engagement, spark conversations, and bring a little more joy to the community. Cey Adams is an American visual artist, graphic designer, and author who served as the founding creative director of Def Jam Recordings. He has worked with some of the biggest names in hip-hop, including the Beastie Boys, Public Enemy, LL Cool J, Jay-Z, and Mary J. Blige. Adams began his career as a graffiti artist in the late 1970s and early 1980s and studied painting at New York's School of Visual Arts. His work has been exhibited alongside renowned artists such as Jean-Michel Basquiat and Keith Haring. Today, Adams is internationally recognized for his influential contributions to hip-hop graphic design and contemporary art. Adams has previously created LOVE murals in cities including Detroit and Jackson, Michigan; New Bedford and Chelsea, Massachusetts; St. Paul, Minnesota; Brooklyn and Manhattan, New York; and North Omaha, Nebraska. Now, his work can be found right here in Broward County. The message behind these murals is such a great one, and it is always fun to spot a new one when it pops up. Other Lead with Love murals can be found along Las Olas Boulevard, in Kingsley Park in Plantation. Dania Beach, and on the Tamarac Community Center. The colorful, love-themed artwork also makes a great backdrop for photos. The next time you are in the park keep an eye out for the mural and spread the love.

Being a history buff, it's always nice to see some recognized history locally. This is an…read moreeye-popping colorful sculpture, with beautiful water views.

Seminole Girl is a sculpture by Ft. Lauderdale artist Nilda Maria Comas. Comas graduated from the…read moreNew York Academy of Art and did her post graduate studies Aacademia de Belle Arti di Carra in Italy. While In Italy she studied marble carving at the Studio Franco Cervietti. Comas has said that she has used sculpting to explore " the human emotions and feelings that have been constant throughout the history of humankind, including passion, joy, love, melancholy, and victory." The Florida Council on Arts selected Comas to create a new sculpture for the U.S. Capital' Building National Statuary Hall to replace the statue of Confederate General Edmund Kirby Smith. Other sculptures Comas has done locally include Li'l Blader in Colee Hammock Park and the actress Kaye Stevens in Kaye Stevens Park in Margate. She also created a 10 foot sculpture in Carrara Marble at the Basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe in Doral, Florida. You can find Seminole Girl in Smoker Family Park along the New River in Ft. Lauderdale. The 8 foot tall sculpture features a five year old Seminole girl holding a palmetto leaf. Next to her is a baby alligator and a crane. The sculpture was first installed in 2015 and it had to be repaired twice. Comas was inspired to create the sculpture in 2013 when Florida was celebrating its 500th anniversary. She did research for the piece at the Ah-Tah-Thi-Ki Seminole museum in Big Cypress Preserve where she learned about Seminole life in the 1900's. Jimmy Osceola and Elgin Jumper helped her to secure tribal support for the sculpture. The sculpture rests on a pedestal of 500 Seminole patchwork tiles. The City of Ft. Lauderdale donated the spot in the park for the sculpture. It sits directly across from the Stranahan House where in the late 1800's and early 1900's Ft. Lauderdale pioneers Frank and Ivy Stranahan lived and traded with the Seminoles when they traveled down the New River in their dugout canoes. I love how much history and culture is associated with this beautiful piece. To me it symbolizes the innocence of childhood and the unconquerable spirit of the Seminole people who are the only Native American people to never sign a peace treaty with the United States Government.

Lead with Love is a mural at the Dania Beach Marina unveiled in March 2025. It is the third mural…read morein the Lead with Love mural series by renowned artist Cey Adams, created through a partnership between the Community Foundation of Broward and Business for the Arts Broward. This mural is unique in that also includes the city motto of Dania Beach " "Sea it. Live it. Love it." Running from fall 2024 through 2027, the Lead with Love campaign will bring nine distinctive, love-themed murals to nine Broward County communities. The initiative uses public art to inspire unity, encourage cultural engagement, spark conversations, and bring a little more joy to the community. Cey Adams is an American visual artist, graphic designer, and author who served as the founding creative director of Def Jam Recordings. He has worked with some of the biggest names in hip-hop, including the Beastie Boys, Public Enemy, LL Cool J, Jay-Z, and Mary J. Blige. Adams began his career as a graffiti artist in the late 1970s and early 1980s and studied painting at New York's School of Visual Arts. His work has been exhibited alongside renowned artists such as Jean-Michel Basquiat and Keith Haring. Today, Adams is internationally recognized for his influential contributions to hip-hop graphic design and contemporary art. Adams has previously created LOVE murals in cities including Detroit and Jackson, Michigan; New Bedford and Chelsea, Massachusetts; St. Paul, Minnesota; Brooklyn and Manhattan, New York; and North Omaha, Nebraska. Now, his work can be found right here in Broward County. The message behind these murals is such a great one, and it is always fun to spot a new one when it pops up. Other Lead with Love murals can be found along Las Olas Boulevard, in Old Town Pompano Beach, and in Kingsley Park in Plantation. The colorful, love-themed artwork also makes a great backdrop for photos. If you're out at the next Untapped event keep an eye out for the mural and spread the love.

Sometimes a simple stroll through a park can lead to an unexpected find. Underneath the Palmetto…read morePark Road Bridge in Boca Raton connecting Wildflower park and Silver Palm Park I found a set of murals called A Place to Be: Palmetto Park Bridge Murals. It is also referred to as A Sense of Place. These murals transforms an otherwise ordinary pedestrian underpass into a colorful art gallery celebrating Boca Raton's shoreline, birdlife, native plants, and surrounding neighborhoods. The murals are one of four public art projects created at Wildflower Park as part of Boca Raton's Centennial Legacy Art Installations, celebrating the city's 100th birthday. Developed through the Public Art Boca Program in partnership with local artists, sponsors, and community participants, the projects were designed to honor community, creativity, and a strong sense of place while reflecting Boca Raton's unique landscape and history. The project was sponsored by The Palm Beaches, the Greater Boca Raton Beach & Park District, Boca Raton Airport, Baptist Health Boca Regional Hospital, Lynn University, Florida Atlantic University, Florida Power & Light, and Florida Blue. The artwork was presented through Public Art Boca in collaboration with Creos and Palm Beach County. These murals were painted by artist Nadia Serenyi. She is a sculptor with an MFA degree and has spent more than 35 years working in academic, cultural, and business settings, with experience spanning the arts, education, theater, community events, display design, and custom artwork. For more than 25 years, she has also created residential and commercial murals. Her artistic philosophy focuses on celebrating the relationship between form and function in nature and pattern and purpose in culture. Her murals bring together land, water, wildlife, vegetation, and movement, creating a visual connection between Boca Raton's natural surroundings and the people who live, work, and walk through the area. I especially love how this project takes a basic space beneath a bridge and turns it into something the community can enjoy. It is a colorful reminder of Boca Raton's landscape and its connection to the Intracoastal and a beautiful example of how public art can transform everyday spaces and create a stronger sense of place.

I really love the new art in Dania Beach that is part of the Dania Beach Legacy Project, a public…read moreart and historic preservation initiative created through the Dania Beach Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA). The project uses murals, artistic historic markers, and walking tours to celebrate the city's pioneers, culture, and history. This collaborative legacy mural, located at 5 West Dania Beach Boulevard, was created by artists Andrew Mossberg, TracyAnna Simmons, and Marcos Conde as part of the Dania Beach CRA Public Art Program. The mural pays tribute to some of the people, places, industries, and attractions that helped shape Dania Beach. I especially enjoyed the creative symbolism incorporated into the design. The large letter D represents Henry Flagler's railroad, which played an important role in the development of the community. The A, N, and I highlights Dania Beach's history with jai alai, amusement, fishing, tourism, and the beach. The final A represents the city's agricultural heritage, particularly tomatoes, as Dania Beach was once known as the "Tomato Capital of the World." The word "Beach," written across the mural in the sand, is the perfect finishing touch. The water and beach imagery represent one of Dania Beach's biggest attractions and help explain why the city eventually added Beach to its name. This mural combines art and history in a way that makes the story of Dania Beach accessible and engaging. It is a colorful reminder of the people, industries, and traditions that helped make the city what it is today.